10/10/2024

THURSDAY | OCT 10, 2024

30

SPORTS

Leader of the pack Saka can deliver Premier League title for Arsenal

Ű BY MIGUEL DELANEY

A CLASSIC case of a goal being the worst thing a lesser team could do. Southampton’s joy in Cameron Archer giving them a shock lead only served to awaken Arsenal, who went from a very flat display to one where they came at the visiting side from all angles. That eventually resulted in a rousing 3-1 win, although one that was more difficult than it might have been. Arsenal ultimately had too much individual quality, specifically in Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka. The German will dominate a lot of the coverage given he equalled Robin van Persie’s record by scoring in seven consecutive games at this stadium.

Liverpool and can be generally satisfied with another win before the international fixtures, there is a slight concern that Arteta may want to look at over the break. Arsenal again failed to keep a clean sheet, making it four games out of the last five where they have conceded. Arsenal did still come through, though, showing they have more to give. The flat first half display was also maybe the first time there was any sense they missed Martin Odegaard, as they struggled to create almost any chances at all. They needed assurance and Saka offered it. “He has that focus,” Arteta said. “He thought ‘I’m going to win this game.’” Saka made it a reality, as he reaches a new level. – The Independent

The strike against Southampton was the equaliser, and perhaps the pick of the day’s goals. Havertz shook his hips like Shakira, who wrote the Waka Waka song his chant is based on, to deftly create the space for a fine finish off the post. Mikel Arteta spoke of how “something has changed” in Havertz, to go up a level. It was Saka, however, who dominated the game. He set up Gabriel

going to be Arsenal’s year, and seen in a new assertiveness on the pitch. Even opposition teams have noticed how Saka gets more involved. There’s a welcome new spikiness in him, which is all the more conspicuous given how he is almost universally viewed as such a nice and polite young lad. Opposition defenders don’t always feel it. “He has the capacity to change games and decide games,” Arteta said.

Martinelli’s match-winner with a brilliant cross before clinching the 3-1 win with a well-deserved strike of his own. Most visible was his sheer range of deliveries beyond his set-pieces. The cross for Martinelli was typical of that, showcasing a range of crosses that are almost like a major-winning golfer’s array of shots. Above all, though, there was Saka’s leadership. It has been one of the undercurrents of Arsenal’s season, that perhaps

“If we want to be at the top, we need players to make those moments... that’s what decided top, top players. “He’s an attacking midfielder who plays as a nine, you don’t know where he’s going to go.” That rising seniority is all the

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more important against teams like Southampton. Although Arsenal keep pace with Manchester City and

Draw Date: 09/10/24 (Wed)

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Bukayo Saka

wa r r a n t s m o r e discussion. Saka is visibly growing into a senior player.

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SIDENETTING

The other injured players include Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia, Mason Mount, Leny Yoro, Alejandro Garnacho, Noussair Mazraoui and Kobbie Mainoo. United are 14th in the standings with eight points after seven games with the club suffering their worst start to a season in the Premier League era. Rooney charged after ‘deserved’ red card PLYMOUTH ARGYLE boss Wayne Rooney was charged by the Football Association yesterday for his behaviour in an eventful win over Blackburn Rovers where he was sent off for allegedly insulting the fourth official and returning to the pitch after his dismissal. In Saturday’s game, Plymouth were leading 1-0 when Blackburn scored an equaliser in the 86th minute which Rooney and his players felt should not have stood, with the former Manchester United and England forward seen fuming at the fourth official. Referee James Linington showed Rooney the red card and the 38 year-old walked down the tunnel at Home Park Stadium, but he was back on the pitch to celebrate a 97th-minute winner from Morgan Whitaker as Plymouth won 2-1. The FA said Rooney has until Tuesday to respond to the charges but the former England skipper said yesterday that he deserved the red card. “It’s my first time as manager receiving a red,” Rooney told TalkSport . “We worked extremely hard to win the game and to have that taken away by a mistake by the officials I felt was really harsh. I reacted in a manner which I probably shouldn’t have and the red card was deserved from that point of view.”

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Spain striker Williams out injured

SPAIN will play Denmark and Serbia in the Nations League without striker Nico Williams after the star of the Euro 2024 title winning team picked up an injury with Athletic Bilbao. Williams reported for training camp at the national team base in Las Rozas, near Madrid, but he was released “following talks between the medical services of his club and the national team,” said a Spanish football federation statement. Sergio Gomez of Real Sociedad, who was part of the Olympic gold medal winning side, has been called up to replace Williams for the two matches in Murcia and Cordoba. Winger Williams was named man of the match after scoring the opener when Spain beat England 2-1 in Berlin in July, and along with Lamine Yamal of Barcelona, is seen as the future of the national team. MANCHESTER UNITED will be without England international Harry Maguire for a few weeks after the centreback said yesterday that he picked up an injury in Sunday’s draw at Aston Villa. Maguire went down clutching his calf late in the first half and the 31-year-old was withdrawn at the break. “Frustrated to pick up an injury at the weekend. Will be a few weeks on the sidelines for me but I’ll come back stronger,” Maguire wrote on Instagram . The defender, who was left out of the England squad for the upcoming internationals, is the latest player to join United’s growing injury list. Maguire sidelined after injury at Villa

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